High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 735: Chapter 83: The Erased Number_1

”In short, the clues are too scarce.”

Xiao Xiao ignored Zheng Qing’s roar and continued her deliberative analysis, ”More importantly, you’re too timid, and your skills are lacking, allowing that little mouse to slip away right under your noses. Based on the current data, it’s impossible to divinate any useful conclusions.”

Although these words were quite sharp, they did not come as a surprise to anyone.

After all, the entire encounter had been filled with strange signs and everyone had been unable to grasp many clues. That Dr. Xiao could analyze and present three different speculations was quite satisfying to everyone.

”In fact, compared to the identity of that little mouse, I think there’s another situation that requires more attention.” Dr. Xiao redirected the conversation, looking intensely at Zheng Qing, ”You just said, on the way back, when you passed by the gazebo on the Lakefront Corridor... You didn’t see the gazebo’s number?”

Zheng Qing did not hesitate and promptly nodded.

What Xiao Xiao was referring to was a gazebo they had passed on their way to the mouse’s den led by the forest cat. On their way there, the young wizards were engaged in conversation and did not notice the gazebo’s number, so they decided to pay more attention to it on their way back.

As a result, they noticed an unusual situation.

”...I was wondering at the time if it was because I was short,” the young scholarship student quickly explained, ”You know, I was in my transformation state at the time and had a lower field of vision... But when I asked the others, they all said they didn’t see the gazebo’s number.”

”Actually, there is a number on the gazebo, except it has been wiped off,” Xin Fat Man added from the side.

”Wiped off?” Xiao Xiao, arms crossed and resting her chin on her hand, had an inquisitive look in her eyes.

”Normally, gazebos have plaques hanging on their pillars with the number of the gazebo written on them. That gazebo did have a plaque, but it was as if someone had scraped off the surface with a knife, revealing the white wood beneath... That’s why we couldn’t see the number.”

”That’s not right,” Zheng Qing murmured, ”I remember reading in more than one book that the first university is a living institution, and the names of the places in the school, like the gazebos, classrooms, plazas, are ’self-named’, meaning named by the ’school’ itself.”

”Like the First Hall, Number Seven Gazebo, the Academy Wall, and so on.”

”If someone wanted to wipe off a number of a gazebo, it would have to be the school itself; if there is a wizard capable of erasing a name that the ’school’ has assigned to one of its buildings, wouldn’t that mean...”

”That the wizard could appear in any corner of the school at any time?” Xiao Xiao finished Zheng Qing’s speculation but shook her head, ”That’s only your speculation. To be precise, every one of us here knows about as much about this school as Tuan Tuan... Maybe even less than Tuan Tuan.”

Upon hearing her name mentioned, the fat cat, which had been curled up snoozing in the corner of the desk, perked up its ears and squinted at Dr. Xiao.

”Meow?” It thought Dr. Xiao was calling it.

”No, no... It’s got nothing to do with you.” Xin Fat Man quickly rushed over, giving it a few comforting strokes while whispering, ”The doctor was just making an analogy, you continue sleeping, just sleep.”

Tuan Tuan flipped its ears, turned its head disgruntledly, buried its head back in its arms, and continued snoring.

A few of the spirits that were also dozing off on Tuan Tuan rustled their wings in their sleep, muttering a few ’hehe’ noises.

The young wizards engaged in discussion intentionally lowered their voices.

”...Later, I’ll go to the library to look for some information,” pausing, Xiao Xiao caressed the notebook in front of her, adding, ”Perhaps I might find some leads in some senior’s notes. Theoretically, those gazebos shouldn’t be missing their numbers.”

”Later, I’ll send a paper crane to Deng Zifei to see if they have any news.” Zheng Qing also nodded, agreeing with the doctor’s idea, ”Whether it’s that gazebo or that mouse, they’re all a bit strange.”

”This is a weird school, it’s no big deal.” Xin Fat Man stretched out his arms and yawned, looking energized, he finally spoke what was, to him, quite good news, ”Anyway, no matter what you guys find in the end, all I know is that the ’Strange Hunt’ column in the next school newspaper finally has some new material.”

...

...

After returning with the cats in the morning, Lin Guo went straight back to Alpha Castle, to continue his unfinished alchemy experiment. Therefore he did not attend the small discussion of the absolution hunting party.

After hearing Zheng Qing’s explanation, the young wizard stuck his head out from under his cloak, his eyes sparkling as he looked at the young scholarship student, ”So we didn’t get it wrong in the morning...That gazebo really doesn’t have a number, does it!”

Zheng Qing looked at the eager young wizard and felt a sudden ill omen.

This premonition would promptly proven right after hearing Lin Guo’s next words.

”So, I was thinking, captain...Should we go and check that gazebo out now?” The young wizard lowered his voice, unable to hide his excitement, ”Like you all said, this school is alive. Maybe the number on that gazebo was wiped off in the morning, but might be back now that it’s evening.”

Zheng Qing took in a cool breath, looked at the young wizard bathed under the dim moonlight overhead, then irresistibly glanced back at the silent grove behind him.

The winter night felt heavier and colder than a summer evening.

There was no accompaniment of the insect beasts, no rattling of the wings of night birds, nor the rustling sound of leaves in the night wind. In the darkness of the night, apart from the bone-chilling wind, all that remained was the sobbing sound of the freezing branches.

After only a brief glance, the young scholarship student couldn’t help shivering.

”No no no,” Zheng Qing quickly vetoed, shaking his head furiously, whispering softly, ”It’s impossible, give up on that idea now. We are currently being ’punished’, we can’t run into any problems, and especially cannot be found out taking leaves...Are you intending on doing night patrols again next semester?”

”Humph.” The young wizard pouted, retreating back into his cloak, no longer making a sound.

Although he didn’t say anything, his silence made the scholarship student’s face heat up- as if his fears had been unconsciously discovered by others.

The little fox in his arms, which had been restless all this while, seemed to have sensed the student’s embarrassing emotions and started to laugh, wagging its big tail excitedly.